Riverside Revival

The Hoboken Terminal's stunning restoration pays tribute to its original designers and materials

Endearing old-fashioned ferries were essential to the glamour of New York before trains and bridges took over. Part of the allure was in the exquisite Hoboken Terminal. But when regular Manhattan service was discontinued in the 1960s, the lustrous turn-of-the-century building slipped into decline. Even with the recent push to return service up and down the city's East River, boats were forced to bypass the old terminal in favor of a temporary landing down the riverbank.

But this winter marks the culmination of a decade-long campaign to bring the storied Beaux-Arts-style building back to life. Travelers again flood through the impeccably restored waiting room with art glass attributed to Louis Comfort Tiffany. Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners—the firm behind masterful restorations at Grand Central Terminal and the Empire State Building—has guided the renaissance of the Hoboken Terminal.

Along the way, the firm recreated a landmark 225-foot clock tower that had been unceremoniously torn down decades ago. The charming, historically researched replacement tower is clad in copper just like the 1907 version by the original designer, Kenneth M. Murchison. Still to come: one more phase, adding gourmet food stalls and retail to keep all commuters happy and well-fed.

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